Ciutadans-espectadors: el futur de la televisió pública al segle XXI

Abstract

Television has such a powerful influence on society that viewers should be respected as citizens, not treated merely as consumers. This should be the duty not only of public television stations but private ones as well since the public also pays the private sector, indirectly, through publicity. Private channels in the State of Spain should assume greater social responsibly, as do such channels in the rest of Europe. In fact, the Spanish citizenry is not prioritized by either private or public channels. The publics information needs and reactions to programming are hidden behind audience data. What is needed is a measurement of audience interest in order to liberate decision-making in television from the commercial logic of network producers and directors.